Senate Approves Two Appointments to FEC

The United State Senate approved two of President Barack Obama's nominees to the Federal Election Commission today restoring the panel's full line-up and giving the Commission fresh voices for the first time in years.

In June, the President nominated Lee Goodman, a Republican attorney from Virginia, and Ann Ravel, chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. After an uneventful Senate confirmation hearing, the pair was approved unanimously by both the Senate Rules Committee and the full Senate.

Earlier this year, Common Cause criticized the President for his inaction on the Federal Election Commission. Karen Hobert Flynn, senior VP for strategy and programs said in April:

"The ball remains squarely in President Obama's court to nominate new FEC commissioners, as it has since the day he took office," said Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause senior vice president for strategy and programs. "Once he acts, the Senate should move swiftly to conduct confirmation hearings and vote the nominees up or down. Step one, however, requires presidential leadership. It's inexcusable that by tomorrow evening, every single seat on the commission will be expired or vacant," she said.

Common Cause continues to call on President Obama to replace the four remaining commissioners whose terms have expired long ago. The FEC is seen by many observers as one of the most dysfunctional agencies in the Federal government. The confirmation of Goodman and Ravel is unlikely to solve the partisan splits that have plagued the Commission which has been held captive by ongoing partisanship on major policy and enforcement matters. However, Goodman and Ravel could bring new ideas to solve the ongoing ramifications of Citizens United and the growing problem of money in politics.